Egress advisement devices to output emergency egress guidance to users

ABSTRACT

A system for providing audio and visual signaling output to egress a building. A central monitoring system can determine, based on user presence information, a floormap of the building having multiple routes and exits, receive emergency indication information indicating one or more locations within the building that may have an emergency, determine, based on the floormap and emergency indication information, egress plans that can be used by the users to exit the building, transmit, to signal generators of a first of signaling devices, first signaling instructions for the first of the signal generators to emit first signals that indicate to first users a first egress plan to exit the building, and transmit, to signal generators of a second of the signaling devices, second signaling instructions for the second of the signal generators to emit second signals that indicate to second users a second egress plan to exit the building.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.17/090,088, filed on Nov. 5, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 16/780,056, filed on Feb. 3, 2020, now U.S. Pat.No. 10,872,510, issued on Dec. 22, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 16/258,022, filed on Jan. 25, 2019, now U.S. Pat.No. 10,553,085, issued on Feb. 4, 2020. The disclosure of the priorapplication is considered part of the disclosure of this application,and is incorporated in its entirety into this application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document generally describes technology for automaticallydetermining a floor map of a building and using the floor map foradvising how to exit the building during an emergency.

BACKGROUND

Fire districts strongly urge home residents to create a home fire escapeplan, in written document form, that includes a map of a house layout,immediate exterior grounds, and details on windows and doors. Planrecommendation includes taking stock of each member of the household andidentifying two pathways (e.g., doors, windows) for escape from eachroom in the house. Fire districts recommend that families becomefamiliar with their escape plan and to rehearse the escape plan at leasttwice a year. However, many families fail to create an escape plan, letalone practice the escape plan regularly.

SUMMARY

A system for providing audio and visual signaling output to egress abuilding. A central monitoring system can determine, based on userpresence information, a floormap of the building having multiple routesand exits, receive emergency indication information indicating one ormore locations within the building that may have an emergency,determine, based on the floormap and emergency indication information,egress plans that can be used by the users to exit the building,transmit, to signal generators of a first of signaling devices, firstsignaling instructions for the first of the signal generators to emitfirst signals that indicate to first users a first egress plan to exitthe building, and transmit, to signal generators of a second of thesignaling devices, second signaling instructions for the second of thesignal generators to emit second signals that indicate to second users asecond egress plan to exit the building.

A system for dynamically selecting egress plans during an emergency. Acomputing device can receive signals indicating an emergency in thebuilding and user presence information, determine a type of theemergency, predict locations of the users within the building, transmit,to an emergency responders computing device, the indication of theemergency and predicted locations of the users within the building,receive, from the emergency responders computing device, an estimatedresponders arrival time based on a current distance of emergencyresponders from the building, select one or more of the determinedegress plans to direct the users to exit the building, send, tosignaling devices in the building, signaling instructions for thesignaling devices to emit signals indicating to the users the selectedone or more egress plans, and send, to the emergency responderscomputing device, the selected one or more egress plans.

A peer-to-peer system for providing egress guidance. Each of a pluralityof egress advisement devices can receive an indication of an emergencyin a building and user presence information, transmit to a cloud datastore a request for one or more egress plans, receive from the clouddata store a subset of the egress plans that are identified by matchinga location identifier for each of the subset of the plans with thelocation information of the egress advisement device, locally select oneof the subset of the plans that is customized for a location of theegress advisement device, a current location of users in the building inproximity to the egress advisement device, and a location of theemergency, and output the selected plan to guide one or more of theusers in proximity to the egress advisement device to exit the building.

A system for centrally managing and executing emergency egress guidance.A first computing device can receive an indication of an emergency anduser presence information in a building, retrieve, from a local datastore, generated egress instructions for the building, select, for eachof a plurality of egress advisement devices and based on the emergencyindication, user presence information, and location of each egressadvisement device, one of the egress instructions that is customized foreach egress advisement device, and transmit, to each egress advisementdevice, the selected instructions to be outputted to guide users to exitthe building. Each egress advisement device can determine thatcommunications are terminated between the egress advisement devices andthe computing device, obtain the emergency indication and user presenceinformation, and retrieve, from the local data store, a second of theegress instructions associated with the location of the device.

A system for emergency egress advisement from a building. An egressadvisement device can receive a floormap and subset of emergency egressinstructions associated with routes within the building, wherein thesubset of instructions are associated with a location of the egressadvisement device and are used, by the device, to direct users inproximity to the location of the device to egress from that locationduring an emergency, locally store the floormap and subset ofinstructions, receive a signal indicative of an emergency, locallyselect, based on real-time conditions in the building relative to thelocation of the egress advisement device, one of the subset ofinstructions, which is customized for users in proximity to the locationof the egress advisement device, and output the selected instructions toguide the users in proximity to the location of the egress advisementdevice to egress from the building.

This document generally describes technology for automaticallydetermining a floor map of a building and using the floor map foradvising how to exit the building during an emergency. A monitoringsystem can automatically create an escape plan, based on pre-disasterand in-disaster motion detection of users within the home, and providedynamic advisement to guide users out of the home during an emergency.The monitoring system can identify and guide users to essential egressroutes, which can be critical if occupants have not created or rehearsedan escape plan. For example, during a fire, strategically placed voiceguidance prompts can instruct residents in each room of a home regardingeffective egress paths, based on previously automatically identifiedfloor maps and current fire location information. Although firedetection and evacuation are described, the monitoring system can beused to detect and advise for other types of emergencies, such as gasleakage, water leaks, thieves trying to enter a home, and carbon dioxidedetection, to name a few examples.

In one implementation, a system includes a central monitoring system formonitoring a building, user detectors, fire detectors, and signalingdevices. The user detectors are configured to detect the presence ofusers within the building. The fire detectors are configured to detectlocations of fires within the building. The signaling devices areconfigured to emit signals to indicate an exit route for exiting thebuilding. The central monitoring system is configured to receive userpresence information from the user detectors, and use the user presenceinformation to determine a floormap of the building. The floormapindicates routes within the building, including exits out of thebuilding. The system is further configured to receive fire indicationinformation from the fire detectors located within the building. Thefire indication information indicating one or more locations within thebuilding that may have a fire. The system may determine, based on thefloormap and the fire indication information, one or more exit routesthat can be used by users to exit the building. The exit routes are toavoid the locations within the building that may have the fire. Thesystem may send signaling instructions to the signaling devices for thesignaling devices to emit a signal to indicate to the user an exit routeto exit the building.

Such a system can optionally include one or more of the followingfeatures. Each given user detector may be configured to detect motion ofusers in proximity to the given user detector. The emitted signals mayinclude voice commands. The emitted signals may include light signals.The light signals may include directional signals that direct users toan exit route. The fire indication information may include temperaturereadings. The fire indication information may include a rate of changeof temperature readings.

In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receivinguser presence information from user detectors; determining a floormap ofthe building based on the user presence information, the floormapindicating routes within the building, the routes including exits out ofthe building; receiving fire indication information from fire detectorslocated within the building, the fire indication information indicatingone or more locations within the building that may have a fire;determining, based on the floormap and the fire indication information,one or more exit routes that can be used by users to exit the building,the exit routes avoiding the locations within the building that may havethe fire; and send signaling instructions to signaling devices for thesignaling devices to emit a signal to indicate to the user at least oneof the exit routes to exit the building.

Such a method can optionally include one or more of the followingfeatures. Each given user detector may be configured to detect motion ofusers in proximity to the given user detector. The emitted signals mayinclude voice commands. The emitted signals may include light signals.The light signals may include directional signals that direct users toan exit route. The fire indication information may include temperaturereadings. The fire indication information may include a rate of changeof temperature readings.

Other embodiments of these aspects include corresponding apparatus andcomputer programs recorded on one or more computer storage devices,configured to perform the actions of the methods. A system of one ormore computers can be configured to perform particular operations oractions by virtue of having software, firmware, hardware, or acombination of them installed on the system that in operation causes orcause the system to perform the actions. One or more computer programscan be configured to perform particular operations or actions by virtueof including instructions that, when executed by data processingapparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the actions.

The details of one or more implementations are depicted in theassociated drawings and the description thereof below. Certainimplementations may provide one or more advantages. For example, anemergency plan can be generated, and used in an emergency, even ifresidents have not previously generated an emergency plan. Dynamicevacuation guidance can be provided that is based on real-timesituational information about occupants and compromised location(s)within a building. Real time information about a current incident can beexchanged between a monitoring system and emergency personnel systems. Amonitoring system can evaluate possible evacuation routes, determinedfrom automatically generated floor maps, to select recommendedevacuation route(s), and instruct signaling devices to inform users ofthe recommended evacuation route(s).

Other features, objects, and advantages of the technology described inthis document will be apparent from the description and the drawings,and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an example system for automaticallydetermining a floor map of a building and using the floor map foradvising how to exit the building during an emergency.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of an example building for which a floormap is automatically determined and used during an emergency.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of another example building for which afloor map is automatically determined and used during an emergency.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of yet another example building for whicha floor map is automatically determined and used during an emergency.

FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart of an example technique for automaticallydetermining a floor map of a building and using the floor map foradvising how to exit the building during an emergency.

FIG. 6 is an example apparatus for providing emergency guidance andadvisement.

FIG. 7 is another example apparatus for providing emergency guidance andadvisement.

FIG. 8 depicts an example system for training a system improvementengine.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an example system 100 forautomatically determining a floor map of a building and using the floormap for advising how to exit the building during an emergency. Thesystem 100 includes a central monitoring system 101 for monitoring abuilding (e.g., a home). The central monitoring system 101 cancommunicate with various devices within the home using one or more wiredand/or wireless networks 102. For example, the system 100 includes a setof user detection devices 103 that can detect a presence and movement ofusers within the building, at particular locations within the building.The user detection devices 103 can provide user presence information 104to the central monitoring system 101. The user detection devices 103 canbe of various configurations, such as motion sensors, cameras, doorsensors, window sensors, door locks and window locks, other securitydevices, etc.

A route/floormap determiner 106 included in the central monitoringsystem 101 can use the user presence information 104 to determine andstore a floormap 108 of the building. The floormap 108 indicates routeswithin the building, including exits out of the building.

The system 100 includes fire detection devices 110 for detectinglocations of fires within the building. The fire detection devices 110can be of various configurations, such as a smoke detector and a heatsensor (e.g., a temperature sensor, an infrared sensor, etc.).

The central monitoring system 101 can receive fire indicationinformation 112 from the fire detection devices 110 that may indicateone or more locations within the building that may have a fire. A firedeterminer 114 in the central monitoring system 101 can determinewhether the fire indication information 112 indicates the presence of afire. The fire indication information 112 can be temperature readingsfor example, as described in more detail below.

The route/floormap determiner 106 can determine, in response to the firedeterminer 114 determining a presence of a fire, one or more exit routes116 that can be used by users to exit the building, based on thefloormap 108 and the fire indication information 112. The determinedexit routes 116 can be selected so at to avoid the locations within thebuilding that may have a fire (e.g., the fire indication information 112can indicate location(s) of single or multiple fires within thebuilding).

A notification engine 118 can generate and send signaling instructions119 to signaling devices 120 located in the building, for the signalingdevices 120 to emit signal(s) to indicate to users the determined routes116 out of the building. The emitted signals can be voice commands,lighted signals, or other signals, as described in more detail below.

The central monitoring system 101 can further include a systemimprovement engine 130. The improvement engine 130 can employ machinelearning to improve various functions of the central monitoring system101, such as functions performed by the route/floormap determiner 106,the fire determiner 114, and the notification engine 118. In someembodiments, the improvement engine 130 is configured one or moreengines that are separate from the other modules or engines (e.g., theroute/floormap determiner 106, the fire determiner 114, and thenotification engine 118) in the central monitoring system 101.Alternatively, the modules or engines of the central monitoring system101 (e.g., the route/floormap determiner 106, the fire determiner 114,and the notification engine 118) are configured to operate functions ofthe improvement engine 130.

In some examples, the improvement engine 130 is configured to process aninput, such as the user presence information 104, and generate afloormap 108 based on the input. In addition or alternatively, theimprovement engine 130 is configured to process an input, such as thefloormap 108 and the fire indication information 112, and generate,based on the input, one or more exit routes 116 which are used toevacuate users in the building.

In some examples, the improvement engine 130 can be trained to generateand update the floormap 108 adapted to changing aspects of occupancy byresidents as well as visitors of a building. Further, the improvementengine 130 can be trained to predict presence and whereabouts of usersin a building in response to determination of presence of a fire andgenerate at least one exit route 116. An example method for training theimprovement engine 130 is illustrated and described with reference toFIG. 8 .

The improvement engine 130 operates to bolster functioning andeffectiveness of the central monitoring system 101 by adjusting thesystem 101 for changing circumstances in occupant status or occasionswith guests. As such, an egress plan for a building can be modifiedrapidly with changing occupant circumstances including guest visitation.Such a plan can be stored locally in the system and in a cloud forredundancy. In certain examples, biometric sensing devices are alsoemployed in implementing the improvement engine 130 and/or otheroperations of the system 101.

In addition to real time exit route guidance, a general home escape plancan be automatically created, based on automatically-determined floormaps, and made available for users, to view and rehearse, beforeemergencies happen. Generated plans can be stored both locally in thecentral monitoring system 101 of the house, as well as in the cloud forfailsafe redundancy. Generated plans can be viewed and maintained byresidents. For example, residents can update a plan, such as whenchanges in occupancy occur over time, or when changes in familymembership occur (e.g., newborns, grown children leaving the household,deaths, and so forth), and occasions with babysitters or house guests inthe home.

The system 100 can include features for assisting disabled users. Forexample, a deaf user could wear or carry a device (e.g., a wearabledevice or a hand-held device) that uses vibrational signals to guide theuser on identified exit routes. As another example, a blind user couldwear or carry a device that provides continuous audible verbal messagesfor egress guidance (e.g., to supplement other fixed audio devices oract as a substitute if fixed audio devices are not functioning).

The system 100 can include other features. For example, some or alldevices included in the system 100 can include battery backup (e.g.,lithium) for use in case of a power outage affecting some parts or allof a building. The system 100 can employ various hardware and softwaresecurity measures, to prevent local or remote hacking. Security measurescan prevent unauthorized users (e.g., would-be thieves) from obtaininginformation about a building floor plan, for example. Other features aredescribed in more detail below.

In some embodiments, the system 100 can be used as a stand-alone systemfor a fire egress and guidance system. Other configurations for thesystem 100 are also possible.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of a house 200 that includes a lower level 202 and astairway 203 that goes to an upper level (as indicated by a directionindication 204). The upper level includes a hallway 205, a first bedroom206, and a second bedroom 208. A central monitoring system 210 hasdetermined a floor map 212 that maps pathways within the house 200. Thefloor map 212 may have been determined from motion detection informationobtained by detecting motion of occupants as they moved throughout thehouse 200. One or more devices in each room may include a motiondetector, for example. For instance, some or all of devices 214, 216,218, 220, 222, 224, and 226 may include motion detectors and areconnected to the central monitoring system 210, through one or morewired or wireless connections.

In addition to motion detectors, the house 200 may include various smartthermostat devices throughout the house 200 that can detect a presenceof a fire and communicate other information to the central monitoringsystem 210, for example. In some implementations, the devices 214, 216,218, 220, 222, 224, and 226 include both a motion detector and a smartthermostat. In other implementations, other smart thermostat devicesthat do not include motion detectors are included in the house 200.

In general, devices that communicate with the central monitoring system210 can include one or more of a smart thermostat, smoke detector, smartoutlet covers, and signaling devices located, e.g., on doors andwindows. A given device may provide one function or multiple functions(e.g., a smart outlet cover may include a motion detector and one ormore signaling devices).

Although one central monitoring system 210 is shown, multiple monitoringdevices may be included in the home 200, such as one monitoring deviceper room. A smart thermostat or a smoke detector can be a secondarymonitoring device, for example. A secondary monitoring system (and thecentral monitoring system 210) can include various sensors (e.g., forfire, smoke, and motion detection) and/or can communicate with othersensors included in an area monitored by the respective monitoringdevice.

In some implementations, the central monitoring system 210 is a mastermonitoring system and other monitoring devices are secondary monitoringsystems. In some implementations, each secondary monitoring system cantake over control as a new master monitoring system if the centralmonitoring system 210 is out of commission (e.g., consumed by fire). Anew master monitoring system can operate using last-received informationfrom the central monitoring system 210 and information received fromother secondary monitoring systems. In some implementations, allmonitoring systems located in the house 200 can act as peer devices(e.g., pre-disaster and/or during a disaster), with no device designatedas a master monitoring device.

As mentioned, devices included in the house 200 can connect to thecentral monitoring system 210 using one or more wired or wirelessconnections. Additionally or alternatively, devices in the house 200 canconnect to a cloud based service, to upload information and downloadinformation provided by other devices, so that a given device can sendand receive data even if in an home network is compromised, e.g., byfire. For example, during a disaster, devices may not be able tocommunicate on a local network, but a smart thermostat in one room andthe central monitoring system 210 may each be able to communicate withthe cloud service (e.g., using a cellular network) and thereby exchangeinformation with each other, using the cloud service as an intermediary.

Various devices, e.g., secondary monitoring systems or other devicesthat include motion detection, such as the devices 214, 216, 218, 220,222, 224, and 226, can provide motion detection information to thecentral monitoring system 210 and/or to secondary monitoring system(s).Each motion detection device can have a known location within the house200, and can provide a device identifier along with provided motiondetection information. The central monitoring system 210 can use thereceived motion detection information to determine the floor map 212 ofthe house 200. The floor map 212 indicates paths into and out of thehouse 200, and paths into and out of respective rooms or on the stairway203. The motion detection information can indicate the paths that usersfrequently use while moving within the house 200. Paths can beidentified by time and location of detected motion, as well as directionof motion as indicated by successive motion detection data points. Forexample, first, second and third motion sensors may detect motion atfirst, second, and third time points that are one second apart,indicating that a user moved between locations associated with thefirst, second, and third motion sensors. Frequency of movement, overtime, can indicate main paths throughout the house 200. For example,motion detectors may detect occasional movement of a user in a corner ofa room (e.g., by a dresser), but may more often detect movement of usersin hallways, through doorways, on stairs, etc. The central monitoringsystem 210 may know which sensors are in proximity to doors (e.g., roomdoors, exit doors) and windows, and can identify paths that lead intoand out of rooms and out of the house 200.

Sensors can be located on doors or windows. The central monitoringsystem 210 can determine an exit path by detecting movement of usertowards a door and then the opening of that door. As a similar example,the central monitoring system 210 can detect a path that includes anexit by detecting the opening of a door when a user enters, and thendetecting continuous movement of a user through the house 200 to alocation within the house. The central monitoring system 210 canidentify path segments within the house 200 that interconnect and thatlead to an exit (e.g., door, window).

The central monitoring system 210 (or a secondary monitoring system) canreceive information that indicates a presence of a fire within the house200. For example, the central monitoring system 210 can receive (or cangenerate) information that indicates the presence of a fire 228 withinthe lower level 202 of the house 200. The presence of the fire 228 canbe determined, for example, based on one or more received temperaturereadings being more than a threshold temperature. As another example,the central monitoring system 210 can receive a fire indication signalfrom one or more smoke detection devices. Other fire detectionapproaches can include IR (Infra-Red) fire detection and rate of risetemperature detection. Fire indication information can indicate whichlocation(s) in the house 200 are on fire (or sufficiently close to afire so as to be avoided by occupants of the house 200).

The central monitoring system 210 can determine, based on the floor map212 and the received fire indication information, one or more exitroutes that can be used by users to exit the house 200. The exit routescan include portions of the floor map 212 that avoid the locationswithin the house 200 that have been identified as locations to beavoided. For example, based on the location of the fire 228 being on theleft side of the house 200, the central monitoring system 200 candetermine that the stairs 203 are currently usable. Accordingly, thecentral monitoring system 210 can determine an exit path that routesupstairs occupants down the stairs 203 and out a front door 230.

After determining the exit route(s), the central monitoring system 210can generate and send signaling instructions to various signalingdevices located in the house 200, for the signaling devices to emitsignal(s) to guide the user to an exit route that will safely lead theuser out of the house 200.

Signaling devices can emit multi-colored, strobing, LED (Light EmittingDiode) laser light, and can be mounted low, at exit points (e.g., door,window) in each room. LED guiding lights, can be mounted low inoutlet-type components, in pathways leading to egresses from the home.Signaling devices can emit various audio and visual cues to the user,for example. For instance, signaling devices can include flashing lightsthat may indicate a direction a user is to take to proceed to (or stayone) an exit route. A series of flashing lights (e.g., in a hallway) mayindicate a presence and direction of an exit route. Signaling devicescan be placed onto doors and windows, to indicate the presence ofrespective doors and windows, and to indicate whether a given door orwindow is part of an exit route. Different colors can indicate inclusionor exclusion of a given door, window, or pathway on an exit route. Forexample, a flashing red signal (e.g., a red “X”) on a doorway mayindicate that the doorway is to be avoided (and the door kept shut). Aflashing green light may indicate that the given door, window, or pathsegment is part of the exit route.

Signaling devices can be configured to play audio instructions for auser, for providing directional guidance towards egresses. Audioinstructions can include a fire status description (e.g., “a fire hasbeen detected downstairs”), directional clues (e.g., “go out of the doorand to your left”), or more detailed instructions (e.g., “place a wettowel under the door and leave the door closed”). Audio instructions canbe specific to the particular room in which an audio signaling device islocated, based on the location of the room, the location of the detectedfire, and a determined exit route.

For the particular example of the fire 228 located in the left of thelower level 202, the central monitoring system 210 can emit a lighteddirectional signal and an audio instruction 232 directing users locatedin the lower level 202 to proceed to and exit the front door 230.Signaling instructions can be sent from the central monitoring system210 to the device 218 located near an entry to the lower level 202, forthe device 218 to play an audio instruction 234 directing users to notenter the lower level 202.

Signaling instructions can be sent from the central monitoring system210 to devices located in the room 206, for the devices to direct userslocated in the room 206 out of the home 200. For example, the devices224 and 226 can emit lighted arrows that direct the user to a bedroomdoor 236 and out of the room 206. Signaling devices located on or nearthe bedroom door 236 (e.g., a signaling device 237) can emit, inresponse to received instructions, signals (e.g., lighted) indicatingthe presence of the bedroom door 236 and that the user is to go throughthe bedroom door 236. Signaling devices located on or near windows 238and 240 can emit, in response to received instructions, signals (e.g.,lighted) indicating that the windows 238 and 240 are not part of arecommended exit route. The device 226 (or another device) can, inresponse to a received instruction, emit an audio instruction 242 thatdirects users in the room 206 to exit the room 206 and proceed to thestairs 203. The device 222, located in the hallway 205, can emit alighted arrow directing users down the hallway 205 and an audioinstruction 244 that directs the users to the stairs 203.

Signaling instructions similar to those sent to devices in the room 206can be sent to devices in the room 208. Signals emitted by devices inthe room 208, including an audio instruction 246 played by the device220, can direct users out of the room 208 (e.g., through a door 246 anddown the stairs 203), rather than out a window 248 or a window 250.

Other types of signaling instructions and corresponding signals can begenerated in the house 200. For example, information can be sent tomobile devices of occupants of the house 200, that directs the occupantsto and on the determined exit routes. The central monitoring system 210,secondary monitoring systems, and/or an application running on a mobiledevice may know where the mobile device (and associated user) are withinthe house 200, with respect to the fire and the determined exit routes.Such knowledge can be used to tailor instructions that are sent to anddisplayed (or played) on a given mobile device.

Other devices in the home may receive and present information related tothe fire 228 and recommended evacuation of the house 200. For example,the central monitoring system 210 can communicate with various computingdevices or displays located within the house 200. For example, thecentral monitoring system 210 can send information or signalinginstructions to one or more desktop computing devices, smarttelevisions, or other devices located within the house 200. Thecomputing devices can be configured to display information (e.g., a firewarning, exit route information), based on information received from thecentral monitoring system 210. In some implementations, the centralmonitoring system 210 can remotely control (e.g., turn on) devices thatinclude a display, and instruct the devices to display (and/or play)information useful for evacuation of the home 200, such as exit routeinformation that is specific to the location of the fire 228 and thelocation of the respective device (e.g., a smart television in the lowerlevel 202 may display different information from a smart television inthe room 208).

FIG. 3 is a drawing of a single-story house 300 that includes a livingroom 302, a hallway 304, a first bedroom 306, and a second bedroom 308.A central monitoring system 310 has determined a floor map 312 that mapspathways within the house 300. The central monitoring system 310receives an indication (e.g., from one or more sensors) that there is afire 313 in the living room 302 that is blocking a front entrance 314.The central monitoring system 310 determines, based on the location ofthe fire 313 and the determined floor map 312, that the front entrance314 should not be used in an exit route. The central monitoring system310 determines that windows 316, 318, 320, and 322 should be included inrecommended exit routes, so as to avoid the fire 313.

Signaling instructions can be sent from the central monitoring system310 to various devices located in the house 300. For example, signalinginstructions can be sent to devices in the room 308, for those devicesto direct users located in the room 308 out of the home 300. Forexample, a device 326 can emit a lighted arrow that direct users in theroom 308 to the window 324 and the window 322. Signaling devices (e.g.,a device 327) located on or near a bedroom door 328 can emit, inresponse to received instructions, signals (e.g., lighted) indicatingthat the bedroom door 328 is not part of a recommended exit route.Signaling devices 332 and 334, and 336 and 338, located on or near thewindow 322 or the window 324, respectively, can emit, in response toreceived instructions, signals indicating the presence of the window 322or the window 324 and that the windows are part of a recommended exitroute. The device 326 (or another device) can, in response to a receivedinstruction, emit an audio instruction 340 that directs users in theroom 308 to exit the room 308 using a window and not the front entrance314.

Similar signaling instructions sent to devices in the room 308 can besent to devices in the room 306. The signaling instructions sent todevices in the room 306 can result in an audio instruction 342 beingplayed by a device 344, and emitted (e.g., lighted) signals produced bythe device 344, a device 346, and signaling devices 348, 350, 352, 354,and 356 located on or near the window 318, the window 320, or a bedroomdoor 358, respectively.

A device 360 in the hallway 304 can receive a signaling instruction, andin response, emit a lighted arrow directing users towards the bedroomdoor 358 (and the windows 318 and 320) and play an audio instruction 362that directs users to use a window and avoid the front entrance 314.Similarly, a device 364 in the hallway 304 can receive a signalinginstruction, and in response, emit a lighted arrow directing userstowards the bedroom door 328 (and the windows 322 and 324), and awayfrom the front entrance 314.

FIG. 4 is a drawing of a house 400 that includes a lower level 402 and astairway 403 that goes to an upper level that includes a hallway 405, afirst bedroom 406, a second bedroom 408, and a bathroom 409. A centralmonitoring system 410 has determined a floor map 412, from receivedmotion detection information, that maps pathways within the house 400.The central monitoring system 410 can receive information that indicatesa presence of a fire 414 within the lower level 402 that is blocking thestairway 403.

The central monitoring system 410 can determine, based on the floor map412 and the received fire indication information, one or more exitroutes that can be used by users to exit the house 400. For example, thecentral monitoring system 410 can determine that a front entrance 416 isblocked based on the location of the fire 414, and can direct users onthe lower level 402 to exit through a window. For instance, a device 418can play an audio signal 420 and emit directional indicators directingusers to a window 422.

The central monitoring system 410 can determine that the fire 414 isblocking the stairway 403, and can determine that no paths on the floormap 412 lead directly to an exit door without using the blocked stairway403. The central monitoring system 410 can determine exit guidanceinstructions to send to devices in the upper level, to guide users onhow to exit the home 400 without using the blocked stairway 403. Forexample, instructions can be sent to a device 424 to play an audiomessage 426 that directs users to use a ladder, if available, to exitthrough an upstairs window. If a ladder is not available, the device 424directs the users to get a wet towel, place it under a door 428, closethe door 428 (and not subsequently open it), and signal firefightersfrom a window (e.g., a window 430).

Based on known locations of the fire 414 and the bathroom 409, thecentral monitoring system 410 may determine that a user has time andaccess to retrieve a wet towel before closing the door 428. The centralmonitoring system 410 may know that the door 428 is currently open(e.g., based on information provided by one or more sensors on the door428), and may direct users to get the wet towel based on the door 428being currently open. If the central monitoring system 410 knows thatthe door 428 is currently closed, the central monitoring system 410 maydirect the device 424 to play a message that directs users to keep thedoor 428 closed.

Other signals can be emitted in the bedroom 406. For example, the device424 and a device 428 can direct users towards the window 430, byemitting directional lights. Devices 436 and 438 can emit signals toindicate the presence of the window 430.

Guidance similar to that provided in the bedroom 406 can be provided inthe bedroom 408. For example, devices 440 and 442 and 444 and 446 canindicate the presence of a window 448 or a window 450, respectively. Adevice 452 can emit a directional signal directing users to the window448 and the window 450, and can play an audio recording 454 that directsusers to not use the stairway 403. A device 456 can emit a signalindicating that a door 458 is not part of a recommended exit route.

Other signals can be played throughout the house 400. For example,devices 460 and 462 in the hallway 405 can play audio messages 464 and466, respectively, directing users to not use the stairway 403. A device468 can play an audio message 470 directing users to not enter the lowerlevel 402. The various signals played by various devices in the house400 can be emitted in response to signaling instructions sent to thevarious devices by the central monitoring system 410 (or anothermonitoring device).

In some implementations, fire fighter or other safety personnel canreceive information provided by the central monitoring system 410. Thecentral monitoring system 410 can send information to a fire fightersystem or device and/or the central monitoring system 410 can sendinformation to a cloud service to enable the fire fighter system ordevice to retrieve the information from the cloud service.

Information obtained from the central monitoring system 410 can bedisplayed, for example, on a fire fighter device 472, which can be amobile device, as shown (e.g., in a fire truck 474 that is en route tothe house 400). The fire truck 474 may be en route, based on receivingan alarm from the central monitoring system 410. Information 476displayed on the fire fighter device 472 includes fire location andstairway blockage information 478, number and location of occupants 480(e.g., for an occupant 481), last occupant movement information 482,status 484 of doors and windows in the house 400, and a timeframe 486 ofwhen last audio instructions were played for users in the house 400. Inaddition or alternatively, the information 476 can include location offire hydrants. The information 476 can be used by the fire fighters tobetter respond to the fire situation in the house 400.

The number and location of occupants 480 and the last occupant movementinformation 482 can be generated based on motion detection devices inthe house 400. Fire fighters can tailor their emergency response basedon information that indicates who may be in the house 400 and where theyare located. Occupant movement information can be generated and sent toa cloud service, on a periodic basis, for example. Security measures canbe implemented so that occupant movement information is only accessed byauthorized personnel, and optionally, only in cases of an emergency(e.g., only fire fighters may be able to view occupant statusinformation and only after an alarm has been received from the centralmonitoring system 410). For some cases, the central monitoring system410 may know that no occupant movement has been detected, e.g., withinthe last forty eight hours, which may indicate that the house 400 is notoccupied. Such information may be shared with fire fighter systems, sothat fire fighters know that the house 400 may not be occupied and thuscan determine whether fire fighters need to endanger themselves ifentering the house 400 (or a certain level of the house 400) may bedangerous.

Fire fighter systems can share information with the central monitoringsystem 410, and the central monitoring system 410 may tailor guidancebased on the received information. For example, an estimated firefighter response time may be sent by a fire fighter system in responseto an alarm received from the central monitoring system 410. The centralmonitoring system 410 may select certain instructions based on theresponse time. For example, if the expected response time is less than athreshold amount (e.g., less than two minutes), the central monitoringsystem 410 may direct devices in the upper level to play an audiomessage directing users in the upper level to open a window and wave atowel or sheet to attract fire fighter attention. In other examples, thecentral monitoring system 410 can operate to devices to start playing asound or audio message to draw attention of fire fighters based on anestimated fire fighter response time. Estimated response times may bedynamically received, as mentioned, or may be predetermined andavailable to the central monitoring system 410 before the emergency.

Occupant movement information and information about known occupants maybe used by the central monitoring system 410 to tailor guidance to usersin the house 400. For example, an emergency plan, which may have beenpartially generated by the central monitoring system 410 and manuallyedited by user(s) in the house 400, may indicate that a child under theage of six generally sleeps in a particular bedroom. The centralmonitoring system 410 may, based on this information and based onmovement detection in that bedroom during an emergency, generate anaudio message to be played in other rooms that indicates that the childmay still be in the particular bedroom and may need assistance. Similarguidance may be performed if elderly or disabled users are in the house400.

In some implementations, after fire fighter arrival, movement of firefighters within the house 400 can be determined by movement detectiondevices within the house 400. Location information of fire fighters (andoccupants) can be made available to and presented on the fire fighterdevice 472, for assisting the fire fighter team during the emergencyresponse.

FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart of an example technique 500 for automaticallydetermining a floor map of a building and using the floor map foradvising how to exit the building during an emergency. The technique 300can be performed by the central monitoring system 101 of FIG. 1 .

The central monitoring system can receive user presence information fromuser detection devices (502). The user detection devices can detect thepresence of users within the building, such as by using motiondetection.

The central monitoring system can use the user presence information todetermine a floormap of the building (504). The floormap can indicateroutes within the building, including exits out of the building.

The central monitoring system can receive fire indication informationfrom the fire detection devices located within the building (506). Thefire indication information can indicate one or more locations withinthe building that may have a fire.

The central monitoring system can determine, based on the floormap andthe fire indication information, one or more exit routes that can beused by users to exit the building (508). The exit routes are can beselected to avoid the locations within the building that may have afire.

The central monitoring system can send signaling instructions tosignaling devices for the signaling devices to emit a signal to indicateto the user an exit route to exit the building (510).

FIG. 6 is an example apparatus 600 for providing emergency guidance andadvisement in accordance with this present disclosure. In this example,the apparatus 600 is configured as an electrical power outlet thatincludes one or more receptacles 601. The apparatus 600 is configured toinclude the user detection device 103, the fire detection device 110,and the signaling device 120. In other examples, the apparatus 600 canbe configured to implement one or more of the user detection device 103,the fire detection device 110, and the signaling device 120, with orwithout other functionalities. The apparatus 600 can be used toimplement at least one of the devices 210, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224,226, 237, and 246 (FIG. 2 ), the devices 310, 326, 327, 332, 334, 336,338, 344, 346, 348, 350, 352, 354, 356, 360, and 364 (FIG. 3 ), thedevices 410, 418, 424, 434, 436, 438, 440, 443, 444, 446, 452, 456, 460,462, and 468 (FIG. 4 ), and other similar devices.

The apparatus 600 includes a user detector 602, a fire detector 604, acommunication device 606, a speaker 608, and a display device 610. Theuser detector 602 can be configured for, or be part of, the userdetection device 103 as discussed herein. For example, the user detector602 operates to detect user motion or presence around the apparatus 600over time. The user motion or presence can be recorded locally in theapparatus 600 and/or in one or more remote computing devices. Asdescribed herein, the user detector 602 can be of various types, such asmotion sensors and cameras. In addition or alternatively, the userdetector 602 can include a door/window sensor, door/window locks, etc.

The fire detector 604 can be configured for, or be part of, the firedetection device 110, and operates to detect presence and location offire. Information on the fire presence and location can be recordedlocally in the apparatus 600 and/or in one or more remote computingdevices. As described herein, the fire detector 604 can be of varioustypes, such as a smoke detector and a heat sensor (e.g., a temperaturesensor, an infrared sensor, etc.).

The communication device 606 is included in the apparatus 600 andconfigured to enable data communication with the central monitoringsystem 101 and/or other computing devices via the network(s) 102. Thecommunication device 606 can include a wireless or wired datacommunication interface.

The speaker 608 and the display device 610 can be configured for, or bepart of, the signaling device 120. The speaker 608 operates to generatesounds, such as audible cues, horns, or verbal messages for egressguidance. The speaker 608 can be used to supplement other fixed audiodevices or act as a substitute if fixed audio devices are notfunctioning. Such sounds can complement visual signs in situations wheresmoke intensity can diminish or preclude the ability to see the visualsigns.

The display device 610 operates to display visual signs that can guide auser along an exit route 116. In some examples, the display device 610includes a display screen that is provided in the apparatus 600 anddisplays information with visual signs thereon. In addition oralternatively, the display device 610 operates as a projector thatprojects a lighted sign on another object, such as a wall, a floor, or aceiling. In the illustrated example, the display device 610 projects alighted arrow on the floor to guide the direction in an exist route 116.

FIG. 7 is another example apparatus 630 for providing emergency guidanceand advisement in accordance with this present disclosure. The apparatus630 is configured similar to the apparatus 600 except that the apparatus630 is implemented as an electrical switch having a switch button 632.Similarly to the apparatus 600, the apparatus 630 can include at leastone of the user detector 602, the fire detector 604, the communicationdevice 606, the speaker 608, and the display device 610. As theapparatus 630 is similar to the apparatus 600, the description of theapparatus 600 is incorporated by reference with respect to the apparatus630.

FIG. 8 depicts an example system 700 for training the improvement engine130. The training system 700 can be hosted within a data center 720which can be a distributed computing system having hundreds or thousandsof computers in one or more locations.

The training system 700 includes a training subsystem 706 that canimplement the operations of a machine learning model that is designed togenerate a floormap 108 from the user presence information 104, and/orgenerate one or more exit routes 116 from the floormap 108 and the fireindication information 112. The training subsystem 706 includes aplurality of computing devices having software or hardware modules thatbuild one or more statistical models. Where the training subsystem 706uses a neural network, the training subsystem 706 operates to implementoperations of each layer of the neural network according to anarchitecture of the neural network. Generally, the training subsystem706 has the same architecture as the improvement engine 130. However,the training system 700 need not use the same hardware to compute theoperations of the statistical models. In other words, the trainingsystem 700 can use CPUs only, highly parallelized hardware, or somecombination of these.

The training subsystem 706 can compute the operations of the statisticalmodels using current parameter values 716 stored in a collection ofmodel parameter values 714. Although illustrated as being logicallyseparated, the model parameter values 714 and the software or hardwaremodules performing the operations may actually be located on the samecomputing device or on the same memory device.

The training subsystem 706 can generate, for each training example 704,an output 708 (e.g., a floormap 108 or an exit route 116). A trainingengine 710 analyzes the output 708 and compares the output 708 to labelsin the training examples 704 that indicate target outputs for eachtraining example 704. The training engine 710 then generates updatedmodel parameter values 714 by using an appropriate updating technique,e.g., stochastic gradient descent with backpropagation. The trainingengine 710 can then update the collection of model parameter values 714using the updated model parameter values 712.

After training is complete, the training system 700 can provide a finalset of parameter values 718 to the central monitoring system 100 for usein generating a floormap 108 or an exit route 116. The training system700 can provide the final set of model parameter values 718 by a wiredor wireless connection to the central monitoring system 101, forexample.

The computing devices described in this document that may be used toimplement the systems, techniques, machines, and/or apparatuses canoperate as clients and/or servers, and can include one or more of avariety of appropriate computing devices, such as laptops, desktops,workstations, servers, blade servers, mainframes, mobile computingdevices (e.g., PDAs, cellular telephones, smartphones, and/or othersimilar computing devices), computer storage devices (e.g., UniversalSerial Bus (USB) flash drives, RFID storage devices, solid state harddrives, hard-disc storage devices), and/or other similar computingdevices. For example, USB flash drives may store operating systems andother applications, and can include input/output components, such aswireless transmitters and/or USB connectors that may be inserted into aUSB port of another computing device.

Such computing devices may include one or more of the followingcomponents: processors, memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM) and/orother forms of volatile memory), storage devices (e.g., solid-state harddrive, hard disc drive, and/or other forms of non-volatile memory),high-speed interfaces connecting various components to each other (e.g.,connecting one or more processors to memory and/or to high-speedexpansion ports), and/or low speed interfaces connecting variouscomponents to each other (e.g., connecting one or more processors to alow speed bus and/or storage devices). Such components can beinterconnected using various busses, and may be mounted across one ormore motherboards that are communicatively connected to each other, orin other appropriate manners. In some implementations, computing devicescan include pluralities of the components listed above, including aplurality of processors, a plurality of memories, a plurality of typesof memories, a plurality of storage devices, and/or a plurality ofbuses. A plurality of computing devices can be connected to each otherand can coordinate at least a portion of their computing resources toperform one or more operations, such as providing a multi-processorcomputer system, a computer server system, and/or a cloud-based computersystem.

Processors can process instructions for execution within computingdevices, including instructions stored in memory and/or on storagedevices. Such processing of instructions can cause various operations tobe performed, including causing visual, audible, and/or hapticinformation to be output by one or more input/output devices, such as adisplay that is configured to output graphical information, such as agraphical user interface (GUI). Processors can be implemented as achipset of chips that include separate and/or multiple analog anddigital processors. Processors may be implemented using any of a numberof architectures, such as a CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computers)processor architecture, a RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer)processor architecture, and/or a MISC (Minimal Instruction Set Computer)processor architecture. Processors may provide, for example,coordination of other components computing devices, such as control ofuser interfaces, applications that are run by the devices, and wirelesscommunication by the devices.

Memory can store information within computing devices, includinginstructions to be executed by one or more processors. Memory caninclude a volatile memory unit or units, such as synchronous RAM (e.g.,double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM),DDR2 SDRAM, DDR3 SDRAM, DDR4 SDRAM), asynchronous RAM (e.g., fast pagemode dynamic RAM (FPM DRAM), extended data out DRAM (EDO DRAM)),graphics RAM (e.g., graphics DDR4 (GDDR4), GDDR5). In someimplementations, memory can include a non-volatile memory unit or units(e.g., flash memory). Memory can also be another form ofcomputer-readable medium, such as magnetic and/or optical disks.

Storage devices can be capable of providing mass storage for computingdevices and can include a computer-readable medium, such as a floppydisk device, a hard disk device, an optical disk device, a Microdrive,or a tape device, a flash memory or other similar solid state memorydevice, or an array of devices, including devices in a storage areanetwork or other configurations. Computer program products can betangibly embodied in an information carrier, such as memory, storagedevices, cache memory within a processor, and/or other appropriatecomputer-readable medium. Computer program products may also containinstructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices,perform one or more methods or techniques, such as those describedabove.

High speed controllers can manage bandwidth-intensive operations forcomputing devices, while the low speed controllers can manage lowerbandwidth-intensive operations. Such allocation of functions isexemplary only. In some implementations, a high-speed controller iscoupled to memory, display 616 (e.g., through a graphics processor oraccelerator), and to high-speed expansion ports, which may acceptvarious expansion cards; and a low-speed controller is coupled to one ormore storage devices and low-speed expansion ports, which may includevarious communication ports (e.g., USB, Bluetooth, Ethernet, wirelessEthernet) that may be coupled to one or more input/output devices, suchas keyboards, pointing devices (e.g., mouse, touchpad, track ball),printers, scanners, copiers, digital cameras, microphones, displays,haptic devices, and/or networking devices such as switches and/orrouters (e.g., through a network adapter).

Displays may include any of a variety of appropriate display devices,such as TFT (Thin-Film-Transistor Liquid Crystal Display) displays, OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diode) displays, touchscreen devices, presencesensing display devices, and/or other appropriate display technology.Displays can be coupled to appropriate circuitry for driving thedisplays to output graphical and other information to a user.

Expansion memory may also be provided and connected to computing devicesthrough one or more expansion interfaces, which may include, forexample, a SIMM (Single In Line Memory Module) card interfaces. Suchexpansion memory may provide extra storage space for computing devicesand/or may store applications or other information that is accessible bycomputing devices. For example, expansion memory may includeinstructions to carry out and/or supplement the techniques describedabove, and/or may include secure information (e.g., expansion memory mayinclude a security module and may be programmed with instructions thatpermit secure use on a computing device).

Computing devices may communicate wirelessly through one or morecommunication interfaces, which may include digital signal processingcircuitry when appropriate. Communication interfaces may provide forcommunications under various modes or protocols, such as GSM voicecalls, messaging protocols (e.g., SMS, EMS, or MMS messaging), CDMA,TDMA, PDC, WCDMA, CDMA2000, GPRS, 4G protocols (e.g., 4G LTE), and/orother appropriate protocols. Such communication may occur, for example,through one or more radio-frequency transceivers. In addition,short-range communication may occur, such as using a Bluetooth, Wi-Fi,or other such transceivers. In addition, a GPS (Global PositioningSystem) receiver module may provide additional navigation andlocation-related wireless data to computing devices, which may be usedas appropriate by applications running on computing devices.

Computing devices may also communicate audibly using one or more audiocodecs, which may receive spoken information from a user and convert itto usable digital information. Such audio codecs may additionallygenerate audible sound for a user, such as through one or more speakersthat are part of or connected to a computing device. Such sound mayinclude sound from voice telephone calls, may include recorded sound(e.g., voice messages, music files, etc.), and may also include soundgenerated by applications operating on computing devices.

Various implementations of the systems, devices, and techniquesdescribed here can be realized in digital electronic circuitry,integrated circuitry, specially designed ASICs (application specificintegrated circuits), computer hardware, firmware, software, and/orcombinations thereof. These various implementations can includeimplementation in one or more computer programs that are executableand/or interpretable on a programmable system including at least oneprogrammable processor, which may be special or general purpose, coupledto receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data andinstructions to, a storage system, at least one input device, and atleast one output device.

These computer programs (also known as programs, software, softwareapplications, or code) can include machine instructions for aprogrammable processor, and can be implemented in a high-levelprocedural and/or object-oriented programming language, and/or inassembly/machine language. As used herein, the terms “machine-readablemedium” “computer-readable medium” refers to any computer programproduct, apparatus and/or device (e.g., magnetic discs, optical disks,memory, Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs)) used to provide machineinstructions and/or data to a programmable processor.

To provide for interaction with a user, the systems and techniquesdescribed here can be implemented on a computer having a display device(e.g., LCD display screen, LED display screen) for displayinginformation to users, a keyboard, and a pointing device (e.g., a mouse,a trackball, touchscreen) by which the user can provide input to thecomputer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interactionwith a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can beany form of sensory feedback (e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback,and/or tactile feedback); and input from the user can be received in anyform, including acoustic, speech, and/or tactile input.

The systems and techniques described here can be implemented in acomputing system that includes a back end component (e.g., as a dataserver), or that includes a middleware component (e.g., an applicationserver), or that includes a front end component (e.g., a client computerhaving a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a usercan interact with an implementation of the systems and techniquesdescribed here), or any combination of such back end, middleware, orfront end components. The components of the system can be interconnectedby any form or medium of digital data communication (e.g., acommunication network). Examples of communication networks include alocal area network (“LAN”), a wide area network (“WAN”), peer-to-peernetworks (having ad-hoc or static members), grid computinginfrastructures, and the Internet.

The computing system can include clients and servers. A client andserver are generally remote from each other and typically interactthrough a communication network. The relationship of client and serverarises by virtue of computer programs running on the respectivecomputers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

The above description provides examples of some implementations. Otherimplementations that are not explicitly described above are alsopossible, such as implementations based on modifications and/orvariations of the features described above. For example, the techniquesdescribed above may be implemented in different orders, with theinclusion of one or more additional steps, and/or with the exclusion ofone or more of the identified steps. Additionally, the steps andtechniques described above as being performed by some computing devicesand/or systems may alternatively, or additionally, be performed by othercomputing devices and/or systems that are described above or othercomputing devices and/or systems that are not explicitly described.Similarly, the systems, devices, and apparatuses may include one or moreadditional features, may exclude one or more of the identified features,and/or include the identified features combined in a different way thanpresented above. Features that are described as singular may beimplemented as a plurality of such features. Likewise, features that aredescribed as a plurality may be implemented as singular instances ofsuch features. The drawings are intended to be illustrative and may notprecisely depict some implementations. Variations in sizing, placement,shapes, angles, and/or the positioning of features relative to eachother are possible.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for emergency egress advisement for abuilding, the system comprising: a central monitoring system configuredto monitor the building and determine one or more egress plans forexiting the building during an emergency; sensors positioned throughoutthe building and configured to detect emergency information and presenceinformation of users in the building; and signaling devices positionedthroughout the building and in communication with the central monitoringsystem and the sensors, wherein each of the signaling devices includesvisual and audible signal generators that are embedded in a wall of thebuilding, the visual and audible signal generators configured to emitsignals to indicate an egress plan for exiting the building during theemergency, and wherein at least the visual signal generators include aprojector configured to project a lighted sign on a surface, wherein thecentral monitoring system is configured to: receive, from the sensors,user presence information; determine, based on the user presenceinformation, a floormap of the building, the floormap indicatingmultiple routes within the building and multiple exits out of thebuilding; receive, from the sensors, emergency indication informationindicating one or more locations within the building that may have theemergency; determine, based on the floormap and the emergency indicationinformation, the one or more egress plans that can be used by the usersto exit the building, wherein the egress plans avoid the locationswithin the building that may have the emergency; transmit, to the signalgenerators of a first of the signaling devices, first signalinginstructions for the first of the signal generators to emit one or morefirst signals that indicate to first users a first egress plan to exitthe building; and transmit, to the signal generators of a second of thesignaling devices, second signaling instructions for the second of thesignal generators to emit one or more second signals that indicate tosecond users a second egress plan to exit the building, and wherein thesignaling devices are configured to: generate, in response to receivingthe signaling instructions from the central monitoring system, audio orvisual signals based at least in part on the user presence information;and output, by the signal generators, the generated audio or visualsignals to guide the users in proximity to locations of the signalingdevices to exit the building.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein thefirst signaling instructions correspond to a first of the determinedegress plans that is associated with a location of the first of thesignaling devices relative to a first location of one or more of theusers in the building and the second signaling instructions correspondto a second of the determined egress plans that is associated with alocation of the second of the signaling devices relative to a secondlocation of one or more other users in the building.
 3. The system ofclaim 1, wherein one or more of the signaling devices are configured tooutput, by the signal generators, both audio and visual signalssimultaneously to guide the users to exit the building.
 4. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the first of the signaling devices is configured tooutput, by the signal generators, audio signals to guide the users toexit the building via a first of the determined egress plans and thesecond of the signaling devices is configured to output, by the signalgenerators, visual signals to guide the users to exit the building via asecond of the determined egress plans, wherein the first of thedetermined egress plans is different than the second of the determinedegress plans.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the signaling devicesare further configured to generate, in response to receiving thesignaling instructions from the central monitoring system, audio orvisual signals based on the emergency indication information, whereinthe emergency indication information includes a location of theemergency, a projected time for the emergency to spread to one or moreother locations in the building, and a temperature of the emergency. 6.The system of claim 1, wherein the generated audio or visual signals,for each of the signaling devices, are specific to the location of eachof the signaling devices and based on room information about thelocation of each of the signaling devices, wherein the room informationincludes (i) a location of one or more doors relative to the location ofeach of the signaling devices and (ii) a location of one or more windowsrelative to the location of each of the signaling devices.
 7. The systemof claim 1, wherein the generated audio signals include (i) directionalguidance out one or more of the multiple exits that are associated withthe egress plans, (ii) the emergency indication information, and (iii)instructions for staying in place until emergency responders arrive atthe building.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the generated audiosignals include voice commands.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein thegenerated visual signals include light signals that comprise directionalsignals for directing the users to one or more of the multiple exitsthat are associated with the egress plan.
 10. The system of claim 9,wherein the projector of the signaling devices is configured to projecta green lighted sign on one of more of the multiple exits that areassociated with the egress plan.
 11. The system of claim 9, wherein theprojector of the signaling devices is configured to project a redlighted sign on one or more of the multiple exits that are notassociated with the egress plan.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein thesignaling devices are further configured to communicate, to each of thesignaling devices and to the central monitoring system, an indication ofthe outputted audio or visual signals.
 13. The system of claim 12,wherein, based on the indication of the outputted audio or visualsignals, the central monitoring system is further configured to updateone or more of the determined egress plans, and one or more of thesignaling devices are further configured to update the generated audioor visual signals.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the signalingdevices include the sensors.
 15. The system of claim 1, wherein theprojector of the signaling devices is configured to project lightedsignals out one or more windows in the building to attract attention ofemergency responders upon arrival at the building.
 16. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the signal generators of the signaling devices arefurther configured to output audio signals to attract attention ofemergency responders upon arrival at the building.
 17. Acomputer-implemented method for emergency egress advisement for abuilding, the method comprising: receiving, from sensors positionedthroughout the building, user presence information; determining, basedon the user presence information, a floormap of the building, thefloormap indicating multiple routes within the building and multipleexits out of the building; receiving, from the sensors, emergencyindication information indicating one or more locations within thebuilding that may have an emergency; determining, based on the floormapand the emergency indication information, one or more egress plans thatcan be used by users to exit the building, wherein the egress plansavoid the locations within the building that may have the emergency;transmitting, to signal generators of a first of signaling devices,first signaling instructions for the first of the signal generators toemit one or more first signals that indicate to first users a firstegress plan to exit the building; and transmitting, to signal generatorsof a second of the signaling devices, second signaling instructions forthe second of the signal generators to emit one or more second signalsthat indicate to second users a second egress plan to exit the building,wherein the first and second signaling instructions cause the signalgenerators of the first of the signaling devices and the second of thesignaling devices to generate audio or visual signals based at least inpart on the user presence information and output the generated audio orvisual signals to guide the users in proximity to locations of thesignaling devices to exit the building.
 18. The method of claim 17,wherein the generated audio or visual signals, for each of the first ofthe signaling devices and the second of the signaling devices, arespecific to the location of each of the first of the signaling devicesand the second of the signaling devices and based on room informationabout the location of each of the first of the signaling devices and thesecond of the signaling devices, wherein the room information includes(i) a location of one or more doors relative to the location of each ofthe first of the signaling devices and the second of the signalingdevices and (ii) a location of one or more windows relative to thelocation of each of the first of the signaling devices and the second ofthe signaling devices.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the firstsignaling instructions correspond to a first of the determined egressplans that is associated with a location of the first of the signalingdevices relative to a first location of one or more of the users in thebuilding and the second signaling instructions correspond to a second ofthe determined egress plans that is associated with a location of thesecond of the signaling devices relative to a second location of one ormore other users in the building.